India batter Shreyas Iyer has revealed why he decided to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket. The 29-year-old said the physical and mental demands of Test cricket had begun to affect his intensity and recovery.
Iyer Opens Up on His Break from Red-Ball Cricket
After scoring a composed 61 in India’s narrow two-wicket loss to Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide, Iyer spoke candidly about his decision.
“When I played red-ball cricket after the IPL, I realised that if I field for long spells, my intensity starts to go down,” Iyer said at the post-match press conference. “And the intensity that you need to maintain in international cricket, I wasn’t able to match up to it.
“In ODIs, you get a day to recover. Not in Tests. That is why I made that call and conveyed the message.”
Injury Concerns and Recovery Focus
Iyer captained India A in a recent series against Australia A. He featured in the first unofficial Test but withdrew from the second, citing back pain. The BCCI later confirmed that it was a recurrence of the same lower-back injury that had ruled him out in 2023 and required surgery in London.
During his break, Iyer focused on refining his batting technique and ensuring his body was fully fit for white-ball formats. He has also been working on maintaining consistency in high-pressure situations.
Technical Adjustments: Upright Stance and Adaptability
Iyer shared that he made subtle technical changes to his batting stance to handle bouncier surfaces more effectively.
“The technique I’ve got lately is not something that I changed suddenly,” he explained. “Since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance, especially on wickets with extra bounce. I grew up playing with that stance, so I thought of going back to my old method and seeing how it works out.”
In Adelaide, Iyer formed a crucial 118-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, helping India recover after an early collapse. He said the stance change has made him a more adaptable player across conditions.
“You have to keep chopping and changing because every surface is different,” Iyer said. “Even in Mumbai, on red-soil wickets with extra bounce, an upright stance helps. I feel I can adapt anywhere at the moment.”
Composed Knock Against Australia
During the second ODI in Adelaide, Iyer’s disciplined knock of 61 steadied India’s innings against a challenging Australian pace attack led by Josh Hazlewood.
“Hazlewood was bowling brilliantly,” Iyer noted. “The ball was seaming both ways, and it wasn’t easy to bat at the start. We wanted to have an attacking approach but also rotate the strike to build momentum.”
Despite India’s loss, Iyer’s innings earned praise for its composure and technical balance under pressure.
